Garden Tool Care

Here are our tips on tool maintenance. Tools always need a good clean and sharpen to get the longest life out of them; how to get it done at home:

Clean Your Tools

Hand tools and larger tools such as rakes and forks often get dirty from soil and sap. Use simple detergent and water to loosen dirt and scrub well. Make sure all traces of mud and debris are removed before using an old towel to dry and set aside overnight to ensure they completely dry.

Remove Rust

Are some of your tools a bit rusty? Use steel wool or fine sandpaper to scrub away any small rust spots that have built up. Make sure you remove the rust with as little scrubbing as possible to ensure your tools don't weaken and thin over time.

Protect with Oil

Using a lubrication oil such as WD-40 and a clean rag - rub the oil into the metal head of your tools. Use Linseed oil for wooden handles before storing.

Sand the Handles

Make sure to run your hand down any wooden handles or areas, does it feel like it could splinter? Use light sandpaper to smooth out any rough spots. Is the wood handle too far gone? Replacement wood handles are available to fit your old head too - giving you another lifetime from your tool.

Sharpen the Tools

Is your spade not digging like it used to? Sharpen the edges of your tools with a metal file ensuring not to go overboard and file too much metal away.

Hang them in Storage

Hang large tools inside, out of the elements. You can store your hand tools in a bucket of dry sand to ensure they stay clean, dry and free of rust or corrosion. The sand draws moisture away and helps keep them dry until their next use.